Agreement in ballot dispute in Barber-McSally race

BISBEE, Ariz. -- There's an agreement that at least for now resolves a
dispute over 130 provisional ballots that figure in Arizona's remained undecided
congressional race.

Attorneys for Cochise County, Democratic incumbent Ron Barber and a voter who
supported Republican challenger Martha McSally reached the agreement during a
recess in a Cochise County Superior Court hearing Tuesday.

Deputy County Attorney David Fifer says counting of ballots is resuming and the
130 ballots will be included in the county's totals.

However, he says the 130 ballots' results also will be recorded separately so
that there can be a new challenge if the 2nd Congressional District's final
count is so tight that those ballots are decisive.

At issue in the case is whether elections officials mishandled the 130 ballots
by not sealing ballot envelopes.